Converting unsupported file types

From MEPIS Documentation Wiki

While applications available for MEPIS support most common file types, some remain unsupported. If you have files in an unsupported format, it is recommended that you try to convert them to a supported format before switching. If you are uncertain whether a format is application-specific or has a usable alternative, seek help from one of the means of MEPIS support.
This section covers some common, unsupported or only partially-supported file types and lists possible alternatives and methods of conversion.

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Converting unsupported audio formats

Many common audio formats cannot be played on MEPIS without the installation of additional software due to legal restrictions and technical issues. However, it has been set up in such a way that you can easily fix this, see these directions.
While support for certain restricted formats can be added after you have installed MEPIS, it can be advantageous to convert audio files to a well-supported format. This is especially important if the files have been encoded using some form of Digital Rights Management (DRM) software, as DRM restrictions can render files unplayable in all applications but the one in which they were applied.
The following major audio formats are proprietary and so are not supported by default in MEPIS:

WMA

AAC

For a well-supported audio format to replace WMA, consider the Ogg Vorbis format. For a well-supported lossless (very high quality) format to replace AAC Lossless and WMA-VBR, consider the FLAC format. Both of these formats are open-standards, and can be played in MEPIS without the installation of any additional software.

There are many audio conversion applications for Windows available for download, and some of these can be obtained free of charge. These applications are also sometimes referred to as audio (re)encoders. Your choice of application depends on the formats which you wish to convert from and to. See websites such as Download.com for a list of potentially useful applications.

Converting unsupported video formats

Many common video formats cannot be played on MEPIS without the installation of additional software due to legal restrictions and technical issues. However, it has been set up in such a way that you can easily fix this, see these directions. The following major video formats are not supported by default in MEPIS:

WMV

RealVideo

DivX

QuickTime

While support for some formats can be added at a later date, it is recommended that you convert important video files to a format which is well supported in MEPIS such as Ogg Theora. As with the audio formats, there are many video converter applications available as free-of-charge downloads for Windows.

Converting unsupported office document formats

MEPIS office applications can read most common office document formats without the need for conversion. The default office suite of MEPIS, OpenOffice.org, supports many office document formats right out of the box. These include many of the Microsoft Office, Corel and Lotus formats. Other formats such as *.pdf and *.rtf are also well supported.

The few formats known to be unsupported currently include Microsoft Publisher files and Microsoft Works files. Additionally, for database files such as Access or Corel Paradox, only the data (tables) can be imported to OpenOffice (or other applications), not the forms, reports, or queries.

Converting from application-specific formats

Some file formats are specific to particular Windows-only applications, and so cannot be used with MEPIS software. An example is the Adobe Photoshop file format. You may find that applications exist on MEPIS to convert or use application specific formats, although some will not be supported.